Situation: Division recon elements near Brok encounter late arriving Polish reinforcements, KG Krafft is the only armor unit that can reach the recon force in time to take advantage of the situation. The recon force consists of: 1x 222, 1x 223 (Fu), 6x 221, and 2x 231(8) armored cars; a kradshutzen platoon, a kraftradmelder section, and a section of 7.5cm leIG 18's towed by a pair of SdKfz 10s. [Lightly wooded area bisected by N-S stream and E-W dirt road with a NW-SE road in the NE corner, Meeting engagement, Visiblity 30, Length 43, standard V-hexes]

Orders: Join the division recon force and take command of the combined kampfgruppe. Deny the area to the enemy, inflicting as much damage as possible without undue casualties. Division artillery is not in position to give support but a flight of four Bf109Es are available for close air support.

Plan of battle: Recon elements will advance to contact and will maintain contact at distance. Armor will advance in company strength using maneuver to outflank enemy formations and defeat in detail. The kradshutzen platoon will assist the armor, and the PzIIc platoon will be held in reserve.

Execution: Fifteen minutes into the operation, an armored car troop engages a calvary squad at long range in the center. A TKS platoon is spotted in the south, PzIVb's and the PzIIIb/d(s)'s of the command element engage at long range, knocking out the lead TKS.m tankette. More calvary is spotted in the center and brought under fire by two troops of 221's. As the battle develops in the south, the TKS platoon quickly falls before combined 37mm and 75mm gun fire. To the north, an armored car troop is spotted, heavy armor cars move to intercept and the reserve platoon is ordered northward should committment against the enemy armored car threat prove necessary.

Half an hour into the battle, enemy artillery fires upon two separate overwatch positions in the south and center, forcing abandonment of those positions. Enemy infantry is spotted advancing along the road in the south where it is engaged by a platoon of PzIb's. In the north, the enemy armored car troop is destroyed by combined fire from PzIIc's and 231's. Enemy infantry reinforcements in the center come under fire from a 221 troop.

In the north enemy infantry continues to advance, armored cars maneuver to delay them. In the center the enemy advance is brought to a standstill by long range machinegun fire. To the south, the enemy is advancing in two columns, one along the road, another south of the road. Artillery is called to fall upon the enemy infantry on the road while a platoon of PzIb's maneuvers to engage the enemy south of the road.

An hour into the battle a pattern becomes evident, enemy artillery is attempting to deny long range firing positions while the infantry continues to advance trading casualties for ground. The enemy advance in the north has been the most successful, the center has seen minimal success, and in the south the enemy advances have been stopped cold. Luftwaffe assets are called in to strike the northern advance while local 75mm and 81mm assets continue to shell the southern road. Armor units are maneuvering into position for a concentrated sweep south of the road.

The airstrike by four Bf109E's together with armored car fire bring a temporary halt to the enemy advance in the north. The center stablizes with the committment of the reserves, and the security force advances to secure the southern road. In the far south, the armor forces the enemy infantry into rout, with the kradshutzen platoon assisting in cleanup operations.

The northern enemy force turns south towards the center with a number of AT-rifle teams infiltrating through the woods. Pressure on the center builds as additional reinforcements arrive. The southern enemy force is completely routed with many units completely eliminated. The armor force is being withdrawn from the south except for one PzIb platoon which will assist the security elements in securing the area. Another airstrike is called, this time on the center and local artillery is targetted upon adjoining areas.

At the two hour mark, although some units have run out of ammo, the enemy is in retreat after a combination of aerial and artillery bombardment in conjunction with a pincers attack by armor and armored cars. At two and a half hours in, all objectives are secured, and all observed enemy infantry is in full rout. For the next hour and a half, sporadic artillery fire and a few weak counterattacks is the extent of enemy action.

Decisive Victory in the last major action for KG Krafft in the Fall Weiss campaign.

Last turnfile attached, thanks for reading!

Notes: these battles, although fun, turned out to be easier than hoped for. If I were to do them over, I would increase the chance for scattered victory hexes and give the AI forces an increased purchase point multiplier. As far as core force mix, I would leave out the mortars and armored cars and change the light tank platoons to mixed platoons with two PzIIc's and three PzIb's each.

Reorganization: in the reorganizations between October 1939 and April 1940, KG Krafft is transferred to the 5th Panzer Division. All PzIVb tanks are replaced by new PzIIIe tanks fresh off the assembly line, the C1 PzIIIb/d(s) is sent for overhaul being replaced by a PzIIIe and transferred to Platoon G. The three light tank platoons recieve some new equipment and now have three PzIIc's and two PzIb's each. The security platoon is reorganized as a PanzerGrenadier platoon with organic medium machinegun and a platoon of three SdKfz 251/1s and one SdKfz 251/10 is attached for transport. The Kampfgruppe also loses the attached armored car troop and mortar platoon but gains three JPzI's and a pair of sIG1b's with accompanying ammo trucks.

Status: The 5th Panzer Division is operating on the north flank of Army Group A during the Fall Gelb operation at the edge of the Ardennes.

Situation: KG Krafft is the schwerpunkt of the 5th division's exit from the Ardennes. A kradshutzen platoon and a pair of 88mm guns are attached for the duration of the operation. One 10.5cm artillery battery from division is in position to provide support. Luftwaffe assets are limited to two observation planes.

Plan of battle: KG Krafft will advance to contact through the center bounded by the northern main and southern secondary east-west roads. The command group will be reinforced by the JPz I platoon and the kradschutzen platoon. The PzIIIe platoon, security element, and 88mm guns will be held in reserve. Once contact is achieved, KG Krafft will penetrate the enemy lines, splitting the enemy force in two and then procede to eliminate the weaker section before turning on the stronger.

Execution: A French 75mm battery opens up with interdictory fire but falls outside of the assembly area. Extensive aerial recon over the first half hour of the engagement shows the enemy strength to be a reinforced infantry battalion deployed with one company astride the secondary north-south road in the center, another deployed around the northern intersection, and a third deployed around the southern intersection. A fourth company seems to be deployed west of the secondary road as a reserve. A pair of AT-guns are spotted in the north, east of the secondary road, while four 81mm mortars and two AA-guns are deployed in the north west.

The main body of KG Krafft quickly overruns the enemy infantry positions in the center and, before the first hour is up, reaches the secondary road running north-south. Leaving one platoon of mixed light tanks to hold the north flank and the command group to hold the center, the remaining two platoons of light tanks together with the PzIIIe platoon and security element turn south.

Supporting artillery fire from the 10.5cm battery and the two sIG 1b's soften up the enemy positions in the town west of the intersection as KG Krafft drives from the north and northeast.

About 90 minutes in, the southern intersection and town is secured just as a pair of H-35's are spotted moving towards the center from the southwest. The JPz 1's of the command group are dispatched to intercept with the PzIIIe platoon and 88mm guns supporting. Both enemy tanks are quickly destroyed and, leaving one light tank platoon along with the security element to mop up in the south, the remainder of the force turns its attention to the north just as the enemy launches an infantry counterattack with the northern infantry company and the remainder of the reserve company.

Supporting artillery fire wreaks havoc on the enemy counterattack as reinforcements from the south arrive to assist the north flank. Two hours into the battle finds the enemy broken in dissarray and the battle ends early after another half hour of mop-up operations. Friendly casualties were very light and only one tank, a PzIIc, was disabled.

Game notes: this was a fast paced battle, the only real danger was enemy artillery but that threat was largely negated by speed and maneuver. Aerial recon won the day as just about every enemy unit was spotted well before it was in engagement range. Poor positioning of the AT and AA guns by the AI made them largely irrelevant to the battle.

Hope this rather short battle was worth the read, next to last turn file attached as zip.

Reorganization: During the short break between Fall Gelb and Fall Rot, KG Krafft recieved two PzIIIe-3.7cm panzers to replace the aging PzIIIb/d(s) command panzers.

Situation: KG Krafft takes the lead after 5th division breaks through French defenses north of Amiens near the Somme. The area of operations is a lightly wooded area of low hills with secondary eastwest and northsouth roads intersecting in the northeast.

Orders: KG Krafft will clear the way for the remainder of the division as 5th Panzer lunges forward in an attempt to cutoff the Amiens area from other French forces, completing the encirclement. As the division is on the move, only one battery of corp artillery is in position to cover the advance. A kraftrad platoon from division recon and a pair of 88mm FlaK36 guns are attached for the duration of the operation. Luftwaffe is providing aerial recon (a pair of Storch observation planes are in the area) and two Bf110D-2's are available for close support. [Meeting engagement, visibility 27, length 52, scattered victory hexes, 80x80 map]

Battle plan: Panzer platoons D, E, and F together with the kraftrad platoon and Luftwaffe support will conduct a reconnaissance in force across the entire front. The remainder of the force will be held in reserve until the nature and position of the enemy is determined. Corp artillery will be used in counter-battery fire operations only, local support will be restricted to the sIG 1b's with the Bf110D-2's held in reserve for strikes against enemy armor concentrations.

Execution: The first pass by a Luftwaffe observation plane spots enemy armor moving in the center. The observed enemy force consists of three scout cars, one H-35 tank, and five Char-B1 tanks. The enemy armor's north flank is screened by infantry in at least platoon strength. The JPz I's of platoon H are released from the reserve and ordered forward to support platoon F in the center while the remainder of the reserve moves closer to the northsouth road in preparation for rapid maneuver.

At twenty minutes into the operation, the center Char-B1 platoon appears to have halted its advance and a section of Char-B1 terr tanks are spotted moving along the eastwest road. The central enemy force appears to be comprised of an infantry company preceded by three scout cars and supported by two H-39 tanks. Platoons F and H maneuver to engage the central movement while the 88mm FlaK36's along with supporting recon section are released from the reserve and ordered north to support platoon D.

Aerial recon spots three additional Char-B1's operating in support of the central movement and enemy infantry in at least platoon strength are spotted and engaged by platoon D along the eastwest road. The scout cars of the central movement are engaged and destroyed by platoon F. As the picture emerges it seems the enemy force is comprised of an infantry battalion supported by a heavy tank company. One company of enemy infantry is moving along the eastwest road supported by a
platoon of Char-B1 terr tanks. Two infantry companies are moving in the center supported by two platoons of Char-B1 tanks and probably two sections of medium tanks (H-35's and H-39's).

The 88mm guns are positioned just east of the intersection overwatching down the road to engage any enemy armor movement on the road. sIG Ib fire is called just beyond the engagement range of platoon D and an airstrike is called on the adjoining area. In the south, platoon E and the kraftrad platoon move into flanking positions. Fire from the two 88mm guns destroy one Char-B1 terr in the north while accompanying infantry is pinned down by fire from platoon D. Two 75mm batteries fire upon areas in the south but the target areas are not near any friendly forces. A second Char-B1 terr is destroyed by 88mm gun fire while in the center, two H-39's are destroyed by JPz I fire. Enemy mortar fire lays smoke north of the east-west road.

Artillery fire begins raining down upon platoon D's position, two batteries are involved, one 75mm battery and a local 105mm battery. Platoon D and the supporting 88mm guns withdraw eastward. A counter-battery strike by the 10cm K-18 battery is called upon the local 105mm battery, while harrassing 150mm fire continues to impede enemy infantry along the eastwest road.

Action in the center heats up at the end of the first hour, JPz I's engage enemy armor, destroying one Char-B1 and damaging another without taking losses. The security platoon is released from the reserve and deploys in ambush positions just west of the northsouth road south of the intersection. Platoon G and the command panzers move to positions astride the northsouth road ready to support the center. The sIG-1b platoon is redeploying and is currently unavailable for fire missions. In the south, platoon E begins moving north to gain position for a flanking attack on enemy infantry once the forward armor elements in the center are dealt with.

As the enemy continues to advance in the center, enemy armor in the north turns to the southeast. JPz I fire claims another Char-B1 and damages an H-35. Airstrikes continue but inflict only minor damage at best. An H-35 advancing in the center is destroyed by a lucky shot from a PzIIc while in the north an infantry advance is repulsed by the security element. Oberstlt Krafft orders the security element and Platoon D to withdraw to new positions east of the northsouth road. Platoon F is ordered to cover the withdrawal of the JPz I platoon in preparation for redeployment to counter the threat of the Char-B1 terr tanks moving in from the north.

As the situation continues to develop in the center, the reserve is forced to move eastward to avoid becoming involved and platoon F is forced to retreat to the northsouth road in order to prevent coming under long range fire from the Char-B1 terr's moving down from the north. In the south the unopposed advance of six Char-B1's forces platoon E eastward to maintain any threat of a flanking maneuver against the infantry in the center. KG Krafft continues to fall back, trying to tempt enemy armor to come under the guns of the 88mm positioned on heights in the northeast. All positions west of the northsouth road have been abandoned. The lead Char-B1 terr falls prey to close assaults by the security element after numerous shells from 37mm, 47mm, and 88mm guns failed. Platoon F is forced to fall back as it comes under heavy fire from enemy infantry. The reserve platoon and command elements are committed to support of the security element while platoon D maneuvers north to prevent enemy infantry from approaching the 88mm gun positions.

Although one Char-B1 terr crew bails under combined fire and close assault, the threat of two additional Char-B1 terr's backed by two companies of infantry combined with seven more Char-B1's that had nearly reached the northsouth road forces KG Krafft to withdraw further east and north. Finally the remaining two Char-B1 terr's stumble into 88mm gun range and are both destroyed. Without armor support in the north, the enemy infantry in that area is quickly pushed back while AT units are positioned to engage the southern heavy tanks. The 10cm K-18 battery knocks at least one of the enemy 75mm batteries out of action and the local 105mm battery has remained silent for quite some time since the suspected area was bombarded.

As KG Krafft regains ground, two Char-B1's are destroyed by JPz I fire and the XO's panzer engages and kills an observation team. Despite the success of platoon D and supporting security elements, they had come under mortar fire and become separated from the main body on the northern flank. The descision was made to recall them and use them to form a new reserve force. Platoons E and F caught the enemy infantry's central thrust in a crossfire and sIG-1b's poured 150mm fire into the cauldron, blunting and finally halting the enemy advance. In the south, platoon G, H, and the command elements knocked out two more Char-B1's with the help of the 88mm guns and also put the enemy infantry in that area to rout. All is not roses however as three more Char-B1 terr's are spotted moving westward.

The presence of the advancing Char-B1 terr's force KG Krafft to once again withdraw eastward hoping to draw the heavy tanks of the enemy under 88mm guns flanked by JPz I's. As luck would have it, just as the heavy tanks advance towards the 88mm guns, two 75mm artillery batteries fall upon the guns causing them to be abandoned by their crews. Almost three hours into the battle, a heroic charge by platoons G and H with supporting fire from platoon E and the sIG Ib's in direct fire mode killed one of the remaining Char-B1 terr's and allowed Oberstlt Krafft to close with the last one, delivering a 3.7cm sabot round at point blank range destroying the last Char-B1 terr. Unfortunately two of platoon G's PzIIIe panzers were lost with all hands during the fight. The only known enemy armor remaining are two immobilized tanks, one H-35 and one Char-B1.

Freed of the dangers of enemy tank fire, KG Krafft quickly routs the remaining infantry and begins driving westward on a broad front, mopping up remaining enemy units. During mopup operations, one PzIb was lost to enemy fire and one PzIIIe was heavily damaged.

Reorganization: The armor company of KG Krafft recieved a number of new vehicles to replace the aging Pz Ib panzers and most of the Pz IIc panzers. The reorganized company has one platoon of PzIIc panzers, two platoons with two Pz IIIg and three Pz IIIe panzers with sabot rounds, and one platoon of two Pz IIIg and three early model PzIIIe panzers. The ammo trucks supporting the sIG Ib's have been replaced with SdKfz 252's.

Orders: As part of 1st panzer group in Operation 25, 5th panzer was to follow 11th panzer in its advance but due to poor road conditions became bogged down near Piro, Yugoslavia. As the division got rolling again, it recieved new orders to turn southward just below Nis and cutoff enemy forces around Leskovac. During this maneuver, KG Krafft with the assistance of a panzergrenadier company forms the spearhead of 5th division's advance. Supporting assets include one 10.5cm artillery battery from division and limited Luftwaffe support consisting of two Storch observation planes and two Bf110E-2 fighter-bombers. The supporting panzergrenadier company has left its truck transport behind in the snarl near Piro and is riding upon the PzIIIe tanks of KG Krafft.

Battle Plan: Platoons E and F trailed by the command elements will advance in the center with the northern flank secured by platoons D and H moving along the road. Platoon G and the security element will be held in reserve following the command elements. Support elements (sIG Ib's, SdKfz 252's, and SdKfz 10/4's) will follow platoons D and H along the road. The KG recon section will advance along the southern flank.

Execution: Ten minutes into the operation, aerial recon spots enemy infantry in company strength advancing in the center and a pair of 15mm AAMG positions are spotted north of the infantry column. sIG fire is called upon the AAMGs as the advance continues. Half an hour into the advance, enemy artillery begins falling in the south but is ineffective. As additional artillery falls near the southern recon position, they are forced to withdraw westward but not before a section of FT-17's is spotted southeast of their position. At roughly the same time, with the range between the forward panzer platoons and the enemy infantry dropping to 1km, panzergrenadier platoons Q and R dismount and prepare to engage the enemy.

Platoon D engages a mortar position at long range, sIG 1b fire continues to fall upon the AAMG positions, 10.5cm fire is called upon the central enemy infantry column, and an airstrike is called upon the FT-17 section. As the panzergrenadiers follow the panzers in the central advance, the panzergrenadier command sections dismount to their rear and the two machineguns of the panzergrenadier company dismount from PzIIc's along the road to provide flanking fire. The JPz I's of platoon H take over long range HE fire upon the enemy mortar position and the sIG Ib's prepare to advance at the end of their current fire mission.

The airstrike in the south strafes an FT-17 and spots an entire company of FT-17's following the lead tanks. The FT-17 company appears to be turning to the northwest so platoon F is ordered south to intercept. PzGren platoon S remains in reserve but dismounts to allow panzer platoon G to replace platoon F on the line. In the north, HE fire from the 47mm guns of platoon H destroys the enemy mortar position while the MG34's of the PzGren company head south to firing positions and platoon D moves southeast to provide additional flanking fire.

A little over an hour into the battle, the leading five FT-17's are reduced to smoking wrecks by fire from platoon F. In the center, action heats up as platoons E and R engage enemy infantry at close range while 10.5cm fire from the division battery falls upon the advancing enemy infantry behind the first wave. In the north, long range MG fire along with cannon fire from platoon D takes the enemy in the north flank, inflicting casualties and allowing platoon Q to advance.

In anticipation of enemy artillery strikes on the center, the PzGren reserve platoon is committed and the PzGren Kp forms a skirmish line behind panzer platoon E as it falls back. Artillery strikes from sIG Ib's and the battalion 10.5cm battery fall on enemy positions in the center along with repeated airstrikes. Platoon D continues long range flanking fire on the enemy infantry while platoon F continues to annihilate the FT-17 company. The command element panzers move to support the right flank of the PzGren Kp and platoon G maneuvers to make a flanking attack from the south.

The anticipated enemy artillery finally falls on the center but has little effect. In the north, platoon D is forced out of its position by mortar fire however the MGs of the PzGren Kp have moved into position and picked up some of the slack on that flank. Platoon F continues its eastward sweep in the south, flushing out and destroying remnants of the FT-17 company. Platoon G launches its flanking attack in the south and platoon E maneuvers for a flanking attack in the north.

Artillery and airstrikes continue to pound enemy positions in the center and only a few units manage to come within range of the PzGren Kp. Two hours into the battle and the Yugoslav force is in dire straits. The remnants of an infantry battalion is stuck in a pocket that is growing ever smaller. To the west they are facing a PzGren Kp that has taken only light casualties, to the south two panzer platoons along with KG Krafft's command units are closing in, to the north two panzer platoons supported by long range fire from two MG34s and two SdKfz 10/4's are preventing escape while artillery and airstrikes continue to pound the trapped infantry.

Enemy artillery lands upon the PzGren Kp positions but it comes too late to save their trapped infantry battalion from annihilation as KG Krafft completes the encirclement. A half hour later, KG Krafft has seized control of all objectives and eliminated all known enemy units.

Decisive victory, KG Krafft. Onward to Greece!

Last turn file attached, thanks for reading.

Game notes: For some reason the GE long campaign shows 3/41 as the start date for operations in the Balkans but the information I've been following gives 6 April 1941 as the beginning of Operation 25 (invasion of Yugoslavia). As for difficulty, I've upped the AI campaign purchase points to 125% and am afraid to go higher for fear of getting slaughtered the first time I draw a delay mission. Of course, historically the armored divisions in Operation 25 didn't have too rough of a time, at least at first. Hopefully things will get a bit more challenging as the division moves to Greece.

Situation: The 5th panzer division runs into the British rear guard as it emerges from the mountains near Lamia, Greece. The area is mountainous with a number of wooded areas and has two east-west roads running through it. The northern road is a main road, the southern is a secondary road. [Meeting engagement, visibility 18, length 37, scattered victory hexes, map size 80x80]

Orders: KG Krafft, joined by a Kradschutzen Kp, is to clear the area for transit by the rest of the division. No supporting artillery is within range, however Luftwaffe is providing four Bf109E-7's for support.

Battle plan: The kradschutzen kp will lead, followed by panzer platoons E, F and G with G deployed in the center. The recon element, SdKfz 10/4 section, sIG 1b section, SdKfz 252 section, kradshutzen heavy weapons group, and kradshutzen command group will join the command group following platoon G. Platoons D, H, and the security element will form the reserve, trailing behind the command group. Force cohesion will be maintained at all times, and the path of least resistance will be followed.

Execution: British artillery makes its presence known early on, with two 25pdr batteries firing interdiction fire along the southern road. As kradschutzen platoon S advanced in the south, it spotted a British advance force of four CS9 armored cars and one A9 tank. Panzer platoon F detours southeast to meet the threat. Shortly thereafter, another force of armored cars and light tanks is spotted moving westward along the southern road.

Following the armored cars and light tanks on the southern road is a motorized infantry company supported by at least three Bren carriers and two Valentine II tanks. Two more A9 tanks are spotted trailing the southern armored car force. Platoon G maneuvers southwest of the central woods to be in position to engage armored cars as they advance along the road. Further south, platoon F maneuvers to engage the southernmost armored car force as it advances south of the southern hill. Platoon E maneuvers southeast from the northern hill attempting to use the valley to gain a flanking position on the enemy force moving on the road.

The southern armored car and A9 force is destroyed by platoon F. The southern kradshutzen platoon was overrun by Bren carriers and engaged by numerous infantry squads. Fortunately late arriving fire from a pair of 25pdr batteries knocked out two carriers and supressed nearby enemy infantry as well as the kradshutzen platoon.

The leading armored cars and light tanks along the southern road are knocked out by platoon G with some help from the command element. Platoons D and H are released from reserve and travel southeast to engage additional armored cars following on the road. The kradshutzen MG section is overrun by a light tank and one of the MG34s is destroyed.

An airstrike was called on a group of Valentine IIs in the south but was largely ineffective, one Bf109E-7 was damaged by Bofors AA-gun fire. Fire from the sIG Ib section falls upon rear elements of the force on the southern road destroying one truck and pinning some infantry down. Kradshutzen platoon Q is ordered south along the edge of the woods to support platoon R and platoon E continues advancing south with the lead tank discharging smoke to hide the following tanks.

In the far south, kradshutzen platoon S is successfully withdrawn with the aid of supporting fire from panzer platoons F and D. On the south road, three of four Valentine IIs are destroyed by a combination of indirect fire from the sIG Ib's and direct fire from platoons E, G, and H. One PzIIIe from platoon G was lost with all hands. Kradshutzen platoons Q and R, with supporting fire from the command panzers and platoon D, drove off most of the enemy infantry that hadn't been routed by sIG Ib fire.

At the one hour mark the only remaining threat posed by the British forces is a platoon of Valentine II tanks operating in the far south. A PzIIc from platoon D was immobilized during mopup operations on the south hill by a light mech squad, all other enemy forces on the hill have been destroyed. Ten minutes later, a small counter-attack force consisting of at least two A13Mk2 tanks and one truck with unknown contents is spotted in the center moving west. Platoons E and Q are dispatched to intercept. The KG's security element is released from reserves and deploys in the woods southwest of the southern hill. The remaining armor maneuvers to engage the southern Valentine II platoon and accompaning infantry.

One and a half hours into the battle, all four Valentine II's in the far south have been destroyed although one PzIIIe was lost in the effort. All infantry except for a few stragglers have been eliminated and three A13Mk2 tanks have been destroyed in the center. The only things standing between KG Krafft and complete victory are three or four Bofors 40mm AA-gun positions. It takes another hour for the kradshutzen kp to take the remaining objectives, destroying six 40mm AA-guns and a mortar squad in the process.

Reorganization: Panzers destroyed in last battle are replaced from division reserves and the JPz I's finally recieve sabot rounds.

Situation: The British abandoned Thermoplyae pass late last night and early this morning. KG Krafft is in pursuit and catches up to the reargaurd late in the afternoon. Area is hilly and mostly clear with a few large stands of woods. Two east-west roads pass through the area, a secondary road in the north and a main road in the south. A secondary road running northwest-southeast runs through the western portion of the area. The area is dominated by two large central hills, one north, and one south of the main road. Also of interest is a large stand of woods northwest of the northern hill through which the secondary road runs. [Meeting engagement, visibility 39, length 32, scattered victory hexes, map size 80x80]

Orders: KG Krafft, with the assistance of a battalion recon detachment, will pursue and destroy all enemy units in the area. Luftwaffe assets are unavailable as they are being used to strike at retreating enemy columns further ahead, however one Storch observation plane is available. One 10.5cm battery from division is assigned for fire support.

Note: The battalion recon detachment is composed of 1x SdKfz222, 6x SdKfz221 in two groups, 4x SdKfz 231(8) in two groups, 2x Kraftrad platoons, and 2x SdKfz 251/2 GrWs. The SdKfz222 is the detachment command vehicle.

Battle Plan: The KG will assume a triangular formation, with platoon D in the lead, platoon E in the north, and platoon F in the south. Platoon H along with command elements will be in the center, platoon G along with the security element will be held in reserve. The recon detachment will be split into three groups, two groups of 221s, 231s, and a Kraftrad platoon and a command element consisting of the 222 and 251/2s. The recon detachment command element, along with all other KG assets, will trail the KG command element. One recon group will operate on the northern flank, the other on the southern. The kampfgruppe will operate as a whole, engaging the enemy in the area west of the central hills and avoid the northern woods. Klotzen, nicht Kleckern!

Execution: The battle begins with British interdiction fire, two batteries of 4.5in and one 25pdr along the main road, and one 25pdr battery on the diagonal road near platoon E's position. Aerial recon spots a motorized infantry company advancing along the north road, a combined force of motorized infantry and tanks advancing up the east slope of the northern central hill, and a force of mixed armored cars advancing in the far south. The northern recon group engages the motorized infantry on the north road with long range interdiction fire, a supporting fire mission is called in to the division battery. The southern recon group maneuvers to positions in and near a small group of houses along the diagonal road southeast of the southern road. Platoon G is ordered to maneuver into supporting positions for the southern recon group.

In the north the combination of long range fire from the A/C of the recon group and 10.5cm battery fire from division slows down and breaks up the motorized infantry company. In the center, the first three A9 tanks and two trucks are destroyed by combined fire from the KG. In the south, the 231s of the recon group account for three enemy armored cars, the 221s of the group withdraw to cover the main road as an infantry column is spotted advancing between the two hills, platoon G continues racing to the area in an attempt to arrive before enemy tanks, and the 251/2 GrW section maintains an overwatch of the village.

The enemy launches an all out artillery attack on the sIG Ib position, shells fall all around and the gun is knocked out on one sIG Ib. In the south, a PzIIIe of platoon G is destroyed by 2pdr fire, no crew survived. Platoon G and the southern 231(8)s destroy most of the remainder of the armor force in the south and withdraw along the road heading northwest. A few more tanks are destroyed in the center, one by a direct hit from the remaining operational sIG Ib. The SdKfz 251/2s fire upon the infantry advancing along the main road, bringing a halt to the advance.

A couple of Bren carriers are destroyed in the center but the situation changes for the worse as three Matilda IIs crest the hill. After heavily concentrated fire and judicious use of smoke, the lead Matilda II is isolated and a JPz I firing sabot from 200m destroys the behemoth. While the infantry advance along the main road has faltered, it is evident that British infantry has infiltrated the eastern portion of the wooded area northwest of the northern hill.

Just past the one hour mark, while concentrated enemy artillery fire lands on the former location of the command post, a second Matilda II is destroyed and a third is damaged. However a PzIIIe of platoon E sustains heavy damage in the engagement and is forced to withdraw. Platoon G becomes the new reserve, platoon E shifts north to assist the security element in sweeping the woods northwest of the northern hill and supporting artillery fire is called in from the 10.5cm battery. Platoon H holds position, while platoon D sweeps the area between the northern hill and the woods. Platoon F maneuvers to the north of the southern road to take the infantry advance on that road under fire. The remaining sIG Ib and the two SdKfz 251/2 GrWs will provide artillery support for that effort.

Platoon G is ordered south to support the southern recon group as it attempts to delay a surprisingly large infantry advance southwest of the southern hill. Platoon D is transferred to the reserve. At the two hour mark, all known enemy units are either destroyed or routed, it seems to be all over except for a cautious advance beyond the hills. A SdKfz251 (security element transport) was destroyed and the gun apc heavily damaged from artillery fire. In the end, the kraftrad squads, with various levels of support, managed to gain the objectives and destroy some rear area units.

Decisive victory, KG Krafft. Next stop, Afrika!

Game notes: this was harder than it appears from the above, there was so much British artillery that I used the sIG Ib's and SdKfz 251/2 GrWs in 'z' key fire mode and kept them on the move. Any unit left stationary for too long once spotted was liable to be pounded. With six turns to go, half the objectives were still wearing British flags, the kraftrad squads were the only units that could grab the objectives. Careful routing allowed most of them to reach their destinations although at least one squad was eliminated. Some supporting panzers during this phase were fired upon by Bofors 40mm AA-guns but as luck would have it, they escaped without serious damage.

Must say I will be intrested to see how this progresses once you start bumping into some reasonable armour etc later on or assaulting once infantry have reasonable AT capability. Managed to keep casulties very light for such an armour based force keep it up.

Better start training more grunts before the eastern front,
1 platoon of elite mech grenadiers and a MMG34,won't hold back the hordes.

I have no doubt you are correct My current plans are to buy infantry with support points each battle, perhaps trading in some repair points sometimes. To make this work I may have to buy a core battery of off-map artillery to free up more support points for infantry although I'm trying to delay that purchase as long as possible.